Bookcase.



PATENTBD D50. 17, 190-2.

T. 5. LAMPING. BOOKGASEQ APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1906.

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PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907" T. J. LAMPING.

BOOKGASE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7,1906.

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UNITED STATES.

eM i Taazz hom it a., cam. y. Be it known that I, THOMAS J. LAMPING, a

i? citizen of the United States, residing at Mo.

line, in the countypf'Rook Island and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Bookcases; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

' clear, "and exact description of the invention,

whichwill enable others-skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

" Thisinvention pertains to improvements in book cases.

" ,stitute swinging shelves for the usual'sta-- Said invention has reference both to single cases having a plurality of shelves,- and that improved form known as the sectional book case.

The invention further relates to bookcases in public libraries wherein steel construction isused. g f The main object of the invention is to subtionary ones that can be made to swing outward and upward to present the books at a better angle to the eye, in which position' they. are sustained during the time thebooks are being perused; all of which will'be fully described. i

Another object of the invention is to produce a sim le construction for the adjustability of the s elves, for the purposes described,

which may be fitted'to any form of book case already constructed. A further object is to provide a construction that may be readily adapted vforuse on the present improved form of book cases known as sectional cases. 1 V

The a'dvantagejm-my construction of book case is that: Iainena'bled to draw all of theshet fes outward'at the same? timer-so that any .may all be inspected, and further that when one is drawn out the one immediately above or below it can be drawn out without the one, already so positioned being in the way.

I am aware that there are certain devices w'vhich have this advantagebut they have no .shelves suspended as mine are and herein l es the advantage and convenience of my cor1s.ruction.. To my knowledge there are no devices of this kind which have conveniently placed means for-.releasmg the shelves to permit them "to return into the case. In my device I also provide interior devices for locking the shelvesin place within said case and the same devices are arranged to holdthe shelves outward aswell. Again .nn EN OFFICE.

Passer beef1v,'-ibozf&-

shelf but am enabled tohave various adjustments thereof outsideof the case I In the ap ended drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of; a book case of the sectional variety in which a portion of an adjustable shelf and locking device therefor is shown. Fig. 2is asectional end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of a book case looking toward the front thereof, "showing shelf carrying mechanism and locking means therefor. Fig. 4 is'a pers ective view of a portion of a shelf showing i316 carrying and locking means used therewith. .Fig. 5 is an end view of a portion of a shelf and means for holding the same stationary Within the case. vation of a book case of the steel form for .libraries and other ublic buildings,showing the adjustability 'of the shelves. Fig. 7 is a top view of a shelf showing mechanism thereunder employed for sustaining shelves beneath itin a desired position. Fig. 8 is a per? spective view of a portion of one section of a top and bottom. within yhiclinelitainhangmg members may swing.

arts. Fig. 1 1 is a side elevation of the same orm of case illustrated in Fig. 6 showing a chahge in position of certain shelf-holding members. r

In Figs. 1 and 2 the reference letters A, B and C, indicate the sections of a book case mounted on a suitable base in the customary manner, these having the usual disappearing doors D. Ordinarily'the top shelf of a book case is of sufficient height to readily admit examination of its contents without the effort of stooping or bending the back. But the lowershelves are usually too low to permit convenient examination of their contents. In view of this it is my purpose to provide mechanism to be built into anyform of book case or even applied to those already in use-by which the lower shelves and in fact all the shelves can be swung into view and to be easy of access.

the same reference letters. The limbs extend downward and rearward tothe back of the case as shown, the limbs Gr thence extendlimited to but onepositioifgoffthe Fig. 6 is a side ele- At substantially the position E, in the top section A, is pivotally hung a bent arm com prising the limbs F and G. At about the g same relative position within the sectionfB is pivotally suspended a like arm denoted by sectional bookcase showingslots in its 7 Figs. 9 and 10 art? views of a modified form of the operating- 7 being above the usual shelf or bottom J of the sections.

ing from that position toward the front from which are suspended shelves H, these latter ends are secured to the said bent arms F G,

and the lower ends being suitably secured to the shelf as will beunderstood.

ner the shelf is held perfectly rigid with refercnceto the said arms, and are horizontal in osition 1whenwithin the case, as'sh own in ig. -2, and inchned upwardly at an angle,

' as also shown-in that figure, when drawn forward out of the case,

L. represents an adjustable back for the shelves which consists of a member extend- 'ing substantially the entire length of each shelf and supported above the same at each end by an arm M securedto said back and whose lower end is slidable upon the shelf as shown in Fig. 4. At the front of the shelf H upon the limb G is pivoted a rod N carrying a series of teeth 0 at its flattened upper end, which engage a pin or stop P secured in the end of the said back L as clearly shown in Fig, 4. By the use of this toothed rod the back can be adjusted forward or backward to accommodate the width of the books to be carried on the shelf.

Provision is made for sustaining the shelves in position when drawn forward and this maybe accomplished in a variety of ways, but in the drawings I have shown two ways in which this may be done. In Fig. 2 a latch Q is pivoted to the bent arm F G at or near the angle thereof, said latch having a notch at R therein for engaging a pin S secured in the side of the caseand positioned to be engaged by said latch when the shelfis pulled forward, such engagement being auto matic, there being a spring T on, the pivot of the latch for normally holding the notched the case.

end of the latter depressed so that when striking the pin S the notch engages it thus supporting theshelf as shown in Fig 2, the said pin being positioned near the front of the easel,-

' Pivotally-attached to the free end of the latch is a pull-rod U which lies along the limbG there being a keeper G on the latter for holding said-rod in place. A finger-piece V on the lower end of the rod permits said rod to be pulled downwards torock the latch on its pivot to release said latch-from the-pin S and thus the shelf is permitted to reenter As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latches, one of which is at each end of the shelf, may be connected by a member Q so that a pull on either rod will unlatch both In this man 'said latches but this is merely optional since the thumb or finger of each hand can grasp the pull-rods at both ends to release saidlatches. In said Figs; 3 and 4 it is to be seen that the bent arms F G are each provided with an inwardaben'd at f whereby the latches can be easily placed in posit-ion and also that there may be ample room for the arms to pass one another and the latches without interference. By having the arms thus bent, also, thev are made to pass by the pins S without'stri ingi" Evidently the centeis of gravity of the book laden' shelves are between the pivot joint E-of the bentrods F G and the back of the case. This being true the shelves will' have'a natural tendency to swing forward slightly outside the case. In order to prevent this an automatic latch is'provided at' W as shown in several of the figures which .is merely a link guided in kee ers 2 secured in the front edge of the shelf and normally depressed either by a spring not shown or by the force of gravity it being raised by the I fingers to release it frhm a stop or keeper 3 secured to the stationary shelf J described hereinbefore. The latch and said keeper-3 thus hold the shelf securely in place within the case, and always lock automatically.

The doors D before mentioned are placed to slide in and out withoutinterferin with any of the mechanism described, he arms F G by being bent as shown cause the books to be thrown up at an angle so that they can 4 be readily examined whereas if arms that were straight throughout their length were used in this form of casethe books could not be carried far enough-outside the case to be easily examined so that little advantage would be gained. It is my preference, therefore, in the sectional style of case to prov de bent arms for this reason.

Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which the tops and bottoms of the sections may be slotted to provide space for the bent. arms F Gto swing, but any other arrangement as do not confine myself to method.

In Fig. 6 is a steel framing foriibrarv book cases in which 4 is a vertical member having pins 5" at intervals which correspond with any particular thepositions E in Fig. 2 and from which are hung arms. 6 corresponding to F G in. the

other figures, butwhich in this case are madestraight, there being a series of notches at a a forpermitting adjustment of said arms 6 to change the elevation of the shelves H.

Ima' Y be used that willadmit of this action,

The rods 7 are used to support the front or beneath the movable shelf, as shown in Fig. ';6,@ .';these said members "being. clearly showng n Figi-fl; i., Ihe rear ends of, said members are ,connectedby means of two:

5 rods how in brolgen lines insaid: figure, which have 'nterposed' betweenlthem a spring 1.0" which .;-,iS -,1 1 Il'de1 constant tension whhhbyf; i rear ends in 10 stepped ends normally outward as illusmated, The hanging arms 6 are shown in cross section in thefigure' named, and when drawn forward in th'eidirection of the arrows, as when pulling the shelf forward, said arms '15 asithey a roach and pass the pivots of the.

=2 membe s;

and provided .with forwardly extending- Suitable keepers at 13 finger-pieces 12.

serve to, sustain the rods in properposition. m Now, it will bc'seen that when it is desired to, return asuspended shelf to the case it is onl necessar to as the fin ei' ieces in one hand and jdra i v 'dhem tog eth This resultsfimdrawing the offsets from behind "theQrods orarmsfiso that the shelf is free to enterthe case.

' In the form of'a case just described, and 40 s'hownin Figs. 6 and 11, it willbe seenthat the centerofgravity of the shelf is forward of the pivot of itshanging rod 6. The result of this is that.v the shelf'will naturally retain its place, within the" case and this might likewis'e be-applied to the sectional style of case showninthe first figures since it is merely that thepivo't' pointof the hanging arm be pf perly p c d:

7 It 's t jue that Ihave indicated alatch in Fig. 6 corresponding to'the latch \V in the other .figures, ,fori positively holding the shelves in position therein, but this is not necessary if the center of *giavity'is kept forward of the pivotfbut I have also provided the members 8, described,which,if desired, may be used to positively hold the shelves in place.

'Lhavenot shown'al'l of the parts in Fig. 6 since ""to tdo so would complicate the same,

but' Fig. ,7 makes the mechanism clear. '1 hs hreinbefore stated the members 8 may "be fcarried either by the fixed or movable shelves, thisfbeing shown in Figs. 6 and 11,

respectively: In the first instance all the "mo'vableshelves'could, occupy the outer pos t on -because the-members 8 re within the .sr il t x rt d s id order to hold their, forward e] offsets. the spring will case, the rods 6 swinging ast them and then being held thereby. Int e second instance, I

that is, where the 8f arecarried on the movable shelves 'it will" befunderstoomf that, as viewed Fig"; 6, thelower? shelfy -"fb which is drawn inward, rests against the 'member' 8 of the next shelfabov'ef it. But; if it' is desired, now, toj-pull "outthe'shel which has just held'the lofwer onerowers-in becomes necessary torelease the lowershelf from the members 8 and allow it toreturn to the position shown in dotted lines, then the shelf which is to be drawn out may be pulled forward, its arms 6 engaging the members 8 of the top shelf. vBy the same rule if the said top shelf were to be drawn forward the shelf supported by it must first be returned intoj the case.

As amatter of fact, the shelves 14, need not extend the entire width of the case nor constitute shelvesas that term is usually understood, since any device may be used in the style of case just described that would be sufficient to support and pivotally carry a .member 8 at each side of the case. r

Fig. 8 shows the manner in which said mech-' u90.-

amsm may be applied to the sectional style of book case to take the place of that-dc scribed first above. The numerals of 'reference in Figs. 7 and 8 are made to correspond.

In Figs. 9 andv 10 I show a modification of the shelf sustaining mechanism last above described as applied to the sectional case as showing the changes that maybe resorted to.

In these figures I employ entirely diflerefftreference characters in designating the diffferent parts. Two adjoining sections are indicated by 15, the door 16 being shown for a the lower one. 1? is the swinging shelffor the upper section 15, the end of which is broken away to better show construction.

Separating the sections is a front strip 18,

usually the bottom of the section, and'between the end thereof and the back of the section is secured a transverse strip 19 only one being shown, however. is pivotally mounted a notched member 20 whichcorresponds to 8 of the other figures except that it is. provided with an extra notch 21 at its rear, which is designed to re-'- I ceive and sustain the bent rod 22 1n position within the case in lieu of the catch W herein? before described. By the use of this form ofsaid member 20 it is to be seen thatthe' bent arm referred to is engaged by notch 21 so that tlnshelf carrying it can be held normally within the case, and the shelf canalso.

be held in a desired position outside thecase as already described. .The rods 23corresponding 'to 9 in the other figures are em ployed as before,while the adj acent ends of mfi the pull rods 24 which are connected to'the members 20 are brought out through a slot.

25 in the strip 18 beneath the shelf 17 aswill be understood In this form; the construc-.

tion is muchsimpler and is more efficient. 1 30 Upon this strip i0 1 It is the desire to make understood that the swinging shelves could be so suspended that they-would remain within thec-ase without retaining means of any kind, and it is not my Wish to confine myself to the useof looking means necessarily for this purpose. As a matter of factl prefer to employ the type of catch shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 for sustaining the shelves in their outward position,

" may be used also.

1.' In a book case, a shelf, suspending means therefor, a frame for carrying the same, the shelf arranged to move outward Stand upward, and means to engagelsaid suspending means and thereby positively hold said'shelf at various adjustments outside the frame through the shelf suspending means. 2. In "a bookcase, a shelf, suspending ,Zffnieans therefonfla frame for carrying the same, said shelf arranged to move outward andv upward, mechanism for engaging the [saidsuspending means by which to hold the shelf at various fixed adjustments outside the frame, and means in connection, with said mechanism to alter its position to release said shelf.

, 3. In a book case, a shelf, suspending means therefor, a frame from which the shelf is hung said shelf arranged to move outward and upward, and mechanism adapted for automatically engaging the suspending 'meansand positively holding the shelf'in any one of a succession of positions through said suspendingineans as the shelf is drawn outward.

.4; In a book case, a-shelf, suspending means therefor, a framefrom which the shelf is hung, said shelf arranged. to move outward a0 .and upward, and means within the frame adapted to automatically engage the suspending means and positively hold the shelf outside the case in any one of a series of ad- ,justments through the shelf suspending means.

51 In a book case, a shelf, suspending means therefor, a frame fromwhich the shelf is hung, said shelf arranged to move outward,

mechahism supported independent of the shelf and with which the shelf-suspending means automatically engages as it is drawn forward for holding the shelf in a desired adjustment outside the case, and means for at will disengagin 1 said mechanism.

55 6. In a boo case, a shelf, suspending means therefor, a frame from which the shelf is hung, said shelf adapted to be drawn out ward, and means within the frame adapted to positively engage the shelf suspending 66 means as the latter is drawn outward and to -hold it positively in any one of its adjustments,'said means lying normally in the path of the shelf suspending means.

, I 7. In. a book case, a shelf, suspending as means therefor, a frame from which the shelf although the form shown in Figs. 2, 3 and stasis is hung, and means normally in the path of the suspending means to automatically en'- said suspending means as the shelf is drawn outward, the said engaging means having a plurality of faces with any one of 70 which the shelf suspending means is ada ted to engage and by which the shelf is eld when dravm outward. 7

8. In "a hook case, a shelf, suspending I means therefor, a frame from which the shelf,

hung, means pivotally supported within the frame in the path ofmovement of the shelf suspending means, andhaving a.plu-" rality of faces, any one of which en ages the shelf supporting means automatically as the '80 shelf is drawn forward for holding said shelf at a desired adjustment in an outer position, and means for moving the shelf engaging means to liberate the shelf and permit it to return into the. frame.

9. In a book case, a shelf, suspending means therefor, and means for automatically engagin the shelf suspending means and positively sustaining the shelf in a de: sired adjustment when drawn outward, said means having provision; thereon-for permittin various outward adjustments of the she f and for holding the shelf in. any one of its adjustments. Y Y I 10. In a hook case, a shelf, suspending means therefor, a frame from which the shelf is hung, means pivoted on the frame for automatically engaging the shelf suspending means and holding it and the shelf in a desired' outward" adjustment, said pivoted means having provision thereon for holding the shelf at several different positions, and means for shifting the said pivoted means to release the suspending means to permit the shelf to return to its normal position within the frame.

11. In ahook case, a shelf, -suspending means there-for, a frame from whichthe shelf is hung, said shelf arranged to move outward and upward, and means in the path of the shelf suspending means adapted to engage and hold the same in a position outside the frame, the engaging means having provision also for engaging the suspending means to positively hold the shelf within the frame.

12 A shelf, suspending means, a frame from which the shelf is hung through said suspending means, said shelf adapted to be drawn forward outside the frame, means normally in position to automatically engage thesuspending means and positively hold the shelf in a desired forward adjustment, the engaging means being also'adapted to hold the shelf in its normal position "within the frame through said suspending means,

and a device connected to the engaging means .to move the same to liberate the shelf fromeitherits outer or inner position.

13. A frame, a shelf, means for suspending the shelf from. the frame, and means for automatically engaging the shelf suspending means at the normal position ofthe shelf within'the frame and adapted for holding the shelf in that position.

'14."A shelf, meansfor suspending the same withina book-case, means for automat ically engagin the suspending means for positively holding the'shelf in its normal positio'n within the book case, and for auto- 10 matical-ly engaging the said suspending "means when drawn forward outside the case, said eng-agin "means having a support independent of t a shelf so held, and means for shifting said engaging means to release the shelf fromany position 'in which it may. be suspended. i '15. In a book case, shelf suspendin means pivoted therein near the front of sai case, and a shelf carried thereby, the said suspending means having their points of support forward of the center of gravity of the shelf, the shelf and its suspending means being relatively-rigid, by.which said shelf is I'nadet'o swing forward and upward at an angle. 1

161 In a book case, a shelf, suspending means therefor hanging from a position near the front of the case, said means extending rearwardly and downwardly from the place of attachment and having the shelf attached thereto, said shelf and said suspending means being relativelyrigid and adapted to swing forward and u ward out of the case. 17. In a boo case, shelf suspending means pivoted within and near the front of the case, thence extending rearwardly downward, and then continuing downward, and a shelf rigidly carried thereby, whereby said shelf swings forward and u ward out ofthe case 40 at an angle substantia 1y as set forth.

18. In a book case, a shelf, supporting means comprising bent arms each pivoted at one of. its ends near the front of the case and extending-downwardlyfrom its pivot to ap-' proximately the back of the case and thence again downward,"and a shelf rigidly carried f-thereby, said bent arms providing for swinging the shelf far outside the case and'upward at an angle, substantially in the manner and for the'pur oses set forth. I Y 9. In a 00k case, shelfsuspending means pivoted inside and near the front of the case and extendim rearward to approximately the back of the case and thence extending downward, and a shelf rigidly carried at the free end of said means whereby the said shelf is ada ted to be carried forward and upward outsi e the case at an angle substantially in the manner and for the purposes described. 20. In a book case, a book shelf, means from which it is suspended and by which it is adapted to'swingoutside the case, and an adjustable back for the shelf for holding the books in position and'for varying the depth 65 of thebook' receiving space thereon.

21. In a book case, a book shelf, means from which it'is suspended and by'wliichitis adapted to swing outside thecase, an adjustable back for the shelf forholdingtlie books in position and for varying the depth oftli'e book receiving space thereon, and means for adjusting said back;

22. .In' a book case, a seriesof swinging shelves separately hung therein to swing independently outside the same, separate means for independently suspending oneabove another, all the said shelves adapt-ed to occupy the outer position at the same time, and means for separately sustaining them in said outer'position. I I

23. In a book case, a series of swinging shelves,- means for separately supporting each shelf one above another, said'shelves adapted to swing forward outside the case to occupy the outer position, either one at a time or collectively, and means in the path of each shelf supporting means for automatically engagin the same and holding said shelves in sai' outer position.

24. In a book case, a series of swinging shelves, means for separately supporting each shelf one above another, said shelves adapted to swing forward outside the case to occupy an outward position either separately or collectively, and means in the path of each 95 shelf supporting means for holding the shelf inthe outer position when brought into engagement with said supporting means.

25. A book case comprising a series of separable sections, a pivotally suspended shelf for each section, each shelf arranged. to be swung outward and adapted'to swing inward by gravity, and means for positively and independentlyholding the shelves in their outward position.

26. A book case comprising a series of separable sections, a pivotally suspended shelf for each section, means for suspending each shelf, each said shelf arranged to be swung outward, andalso adapted to move into the case by the force of gravity, the suspending means for a given shelf being pivoted within a section above it, the shelves and the suspending means of the several sections adapted to swing through the shelf suspending means of adjoining sections, and means for positively and independently hold ing each shelf in its outer position substantially as described.

27. In a book case, a shelf, suspending means therefor,- a frame from which said means is hung, said shelfadapted-to swing forward and upward away from the frame, and means for automatically and positively engaging the shelf suspending means for hold-. ing the shelf in a desired outward adjust.

ment at an an le as described.

28. In a book case, a frame, ashelf, ineans .forsuspending the shelffrom the frame, and

adapted for swinging it forward and upward, andmeans to hold said suspending means in a positive adjustment at an angle when said shelf is drawn outward from the frame.

'29.- A book case comprising a series of separable sections mounted one upon another, a pair of arms pivotally suspended within each section, a shelf for each said sec tion, the same being carried on the arms in a rigid manner, and adapted to be drawn outside its section together with those of the other sections, and means for engaging the arms for holding the said shelf outside the section in a positive manner. V

30. In a book case a series of separable sec tions mounted one upon another, a pair of arms pivotally suspended within each section and having free ends extending into a lower section, a shelf carried at said free ends, each said shelf adapted to swing outward for the purposes set forth, and means to engage the arms thereof for holding, the shelf in the outer position irrespective of the position of those of neighboring sections, each section and its shelf being bodily removable from neighboring sections.

31. In a book case, a series of separable sections, a shelf for each section, arms for suspending each shelf, the shelf of any given section ada ted to swing .between the arms of shelves 0 adjoining sections without interference, and means for holding anyone shelf outside its section.

32. In a book case, a frame, a series of shelv means for separately suspending each shelffrom the frame, any given shelf arranged and adapted to swing forward outside the frame for the urposes set forth, and means for separately iolding the shelves in the outer position.

33. In a book case, a frame, a series of shelves, means for separately suspending each shelf from the frame, any given shelf arranged and adapted to swing between the suspending means of adjacent shelves without interference therewith and adapted to swing forward outside the frame for the purposes set forth, means for holding the shelf in the outer position, and means for holding the shelves in their normal inner position within the frame. 7

34. A book case, comprising a series of separable sections, a suspended shelf within each section, the shelves adapted to be drawn outward, and all held in the outer position at the same time, automatic means for so holding the shelves, and means for positively holding the shelves within their respective sections.

35. A book CEISG-"COIDPIISiHg a series of ,se arable sect1ons,placed one upon another, fa se shelves for the several sections,

airs of arms for carrying them, the same being suspended within the case and adapted to swing outward with the shelves, automatic means for holding each shelf in an outward position, means for locking each said shelf within its respective section, and doors for closing the sections.

36. A book case comprising ai-series of separable sections placed one upon another, a shelf for each section, a pair'of arms for sus ending each shelf, means for retaining a she in an outer position when swung from within the section, an adjustable back for each shelf and means for adjusting it for the purposes set forth.

37. In a book case, a pair of arms pivoted within the case, a shelf carried by the arms, notchedmembers for engaging the arms and for permitting various automatic outward adjustments of said arms for the purposes described and means for moving the members to release the arms and permit the return of the shelf to the case. I

58. In a book case, a pair of arms pivoted within the case, a shelf carried'by the arms, and notched members for automatically engaging the arms when the latter are drawn forward outside the case, there being provision on said members for locking the arms in stationary position within the case.

39. In a book case, a pair of arms pivotally suspended within the case, a shelf carried by the arms, notched members for automatically engaging the arms when the latter are drawn forward for the purposes described,

there being provision thereon also for holding the arms stationarywhen they are within the case, manually operated means for operating the members to release the arms, and means for normallyholding the members in their arm engaging positions.

40. In a book case, a pair of arms pivotally suspended within the case, a shelf carried by the arms, a pair of pivoted members each having a series of notches in one of its edges for separately and automatically engaging the arms for the purposes described when the latter are drawn outside the case, there being a notch in each of said members for automatically engaging the arms to hold. the shelf stationary within the case, means for normally holding the members in position to receive the arms and means for moving them on their pivots to release the arms from any position in which they may be sustained.

ii. In a book case, a frame, aplur: lity of shelves, sets of arms pivotally suppoi iedby the frame and themselves sup ort ng said shelves respectively, and means or v :jrtically adjusting one of the sets of arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

I THOMAS J. LAMPING.

Witnesses:

G. W. REGEXBERG, ROBERT W. RANK. 

